1978 XS 1100 E Still for Sale!

[ratbyk]

Selling Used Equipment

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If MARTYL86 can get $3850. for his 78XS 1100E then that is what it is worth. If he cannot then I guess it wasn't worth $3850.
MARTYL86, if you are an XSive, why are you selling such a pristine example? If you are not an XSive then why are you on this site? Possibly you are a used M/C dealer trying to crank a dollar. If so go to the Want adds column not the general interest portion of the forum.
The only vintage type Japanese motorcycle that I know of that qualifies for collector status is the Honda CBX. Possibly factory racers from Japan command premium prices but the Yamaha XS/XJ 1100 is a workhorse not a collectible. Yamaha/Kawasaki/Honda/Suzuki super bikes from the late 70's early 80's are all potential desirable M/C's. But any one of them is only worth what someone is willing to put his hand in his pocket and pull out that much money for. If not the price goes down or the M/C heads for the recycle yard.
This thread is beat to death. Time to move on everyone and don't bother responding to it any more. Let it die!
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"

[scalded dog]

just a note to the "Pawnbroker", I bought my first xs 1100, full faring ,saddle bags, from a pawn shop, After the pawnbroker let me work on it to get it running before I bought it, I coudn't believe the way it ran, and still does more than two years later, this bike led me to buy two more, and I am glad that I could afford this bike, it had 27,000 miles on it, and was taken good care of by two prvious owners, I could not have got back into riding again if I had not found this bike, I now ride with the Southern Cruisers, ever since I bought this bike, and have met a lot of friends, There is not a cruiser including the New gold wings that can touch it. Thanks to the "Pawnbroker". Later 'Dog

[scalded dog]

by the way, I only paid $600, for this bike. Later 'Dog

[fusionking]

Maybe thats not a bad idea after all!!!!!

HEY maybe if we all always asked that much for our bikes all the time the common price would go up. That way the way the blue book value would change because of supply and demand!!!! Sounds great huh? hehehehehehehehehehehe

[jacuff1]

The only thing I will say about this is, you can ask anything you want, but getting it might be a whole different kettle o' fish!
I know that in the local auto trader, there is a totally restored 70-something Kawasaki 750 triple (yep, the 2-stroke crotch rocket). It's a super sharp looking bike. As I recall, the guy is asking $4k for it, and it's been in there for weeks now. All I can say is good luck! I think you're gonna need it. And I hope I never come into your establishment to buy anything. I hate pushy salesmen! "The sale doesn't start until the customer says no." At that point I'd be walking out the door.

John

[fusionking]

a guy could get bruised by just reading this thread!!!!!!!!!

[Jerry]

I wasn't sure who I was dealing with on this board. After reading posts by "know it alls" Jerry and Jeff, i was really pissed off. Who makes them so called "experts"?

Methinks the man doth pretest to much.

If you read my original post, I indicated you would have trouble selling your bike for the price quoted. You listed the bike back in August and still have it.

You have posted 2 different stories about how long the bike sat.

You have posted 3 different amounts about how much you have spend on it.

You have criticized, with personal insults, people who expressed an adverse opinion on your pricing, even though this is an open forum. Why? What is so threateneing to you that you have to rip people who disagree with your opinion?

All of your posts have been related to selling mechandise. No tips, hints, personal experiences, ride reports, or anything of use to list members. It seems quite clear you do not have an interest in the XS/XJ11 models and are using this forum soley to sell stuff.

Neither Jeff (whom I have never met) nor I profess to be "experts" on anything XS related - don't know why youy are trying to lard your insults with words never used be either of us - but for me, at least, in 4+ years of watching the XS lists I've never seen anyone confess to spending $3,850 to buy their bike.

Whike this list always welcomes new members, and is no stranger to controversy and occasional spats, at the base is a real interest in riding, wrenching, and interacting with others who have a genuine interest in the Yamaha XS and XJ 1100 bikes. On the basis of your past posts and comments you do not fit this profile, so what are you doing here? Why did you join this forum? If you do not wish to get opinions that conflict with your own, or learn from people who have been around the XS/XJ far longer than you, then leave the list. But if you stay, it better be for more than having another sales outlet for your stuff.

[Pat Kelly]

Originally posted by MATTYL86
I was simply tring to say that value is whatever people will pay, not that I'm trying to rip people off. Hell, I own over 100 motorcycles and I have a pretty good idea of value myself, but I too would pay top dollar on an emotional buy anytime, regardless of some bull**** NADA book value or whatever.

and no one on this list would pay that amount. Would you pay that amount for that particular bike? You have over 100 bikes, are you a collector or a dealer? If you're a collector then why sell this classic collectable in pristine condition? If you are a dealer then you are out to make a profit (to stay in business).

You can't add maintainence to the value of a vehicle. I have a 68 Ford pick-up with 150,000 original miles on it (my Grandpa was the original owner). 500 oil changes ($20 each, $1,000), 4 sets of tires($400 X 4, $1,600), 2 complete brake jobs($250 X 2, $500), 1 clutch replacement ($150), 2 radiator replacements ($60 X 2, $120), 1 complete engine rebuild (all new parts, $1,500). $4,357 over industry standard value? You'd laugh at me if I asked $4500 for this truck (which is still in great shape). It was my (departed Grandpas so add sentimental value). Say, $7,995 and it's yours. What a great deal!!
Now if I listed the chrome grill guard, chrome wheels, stereo, camper, dual battery set-up, oversized alternator, front and rear auxilery power outlets, airbag suspension... then that could be added to the value. I guess this makes me an expert on 68 Ford pick-ups, and Suburbans (have one), and XS1100's (have one), and XS750 (have 3), and XL250 (have one).

Sorry if this list turned out to be the wrong place to place your ad. Maybe Ebay would be a better place to try and sell the bike. I really do hope you find a buyer.

[fusionking]

By By

Hey guys.....I think he's gone now! I thought it was typical of him to ridicule someone's occupation and not have anything in his own profile! I notice that about a lot of people that go on..... like they got a big secret or sumpthin!

[Jeff]

He may not have "contributed" to the forum but at least he researched it a bit. LOL I only mentioned that I paid $600 for my bike in this thread. He had to at least search the forum to find my post where I stated I bought it at my pawnshop. Or maybe he simply looked at "pawnbroker" in my profile and just assumed that since I bought it cheap.... that I bought it from my shop.

And since its now pretty much a moot point..... whether I paid $600 or $4k....... my 78 XS1100E is still the best bike I've ever owned.

To put this to rest.... CHA-CHING! NO SALE. (at least for this average joe biker on a budget)

[xsrider]

High Priced XS

I paid 1500 for my 80SG in 1990. It had 35,000 mi. now it has 65,000. Been around Mt Rainier about a dozen times, cw and ccw and all over the NW. Since, lived in 3 yrs in Michigan dodged dead racoons, 3 yrs in Kentucky with it's jillions of little paved roads, now North Carolina and I replaced the head for $100. Who cares about the $3850 guy? My bike outlasted my second wife; how's that for value?

[Robert Haller]

I bought my pristine all original 79 Special for emotional reasons for $2700 and thought that was top dollar!

[fusionking]

Well Robert you just made me feel better.... I paid a grand and spent another grand for "stuff"....Then ran over it and had to spend a few hundred more just to ride again!!!!(I think that makes us about even)

[jkorn]

The value of any bike can vary a lot. Recently I purchased a 79 XS1100 standard. It had all original parts except for the shocks and to say the least, this one looked and performed like new. It came equiped with a complete set of Vetter fairing, bags and trunk that matched the stock paint job on the XS. While the machine had over 50k miles this can not be noticed while either looking at or riding the machine. I purchased it from the original owner who maintained it to perfection. This will not be a "parts" bike, but a valuable addition to my garage. I feel honored to have been able to buy this one from the original owner. I have another 79XS with less miles that I bought new and thought it was clean and in great shape, but this new one is some thing else.

How much did I pay for all of this. Less that $1500.

Your price seems a bit high...

Jeff

[jkgrubbs]

It is worth whatever some one will pay. I paid $1700 for my LH two years ago. I had the $ and the guy had the bike, so we made medicine, no regrets. I rode it away, with no issues pressing to be done, he put on a new rear Dunlop. He did take it back later and installed new needle seats, gratis. I have put $200+/- in it. I am happy. It got me back into bikes, on one that I have always liked/lusted after. The only must haves that I had when I was shopping was shaft drive, over 1000cc's, under $2k. I was looking for a chance to ride power again, cheap. I think that as time goes on, the xs bikes will be collectible to some, especially the Midnights, after all they were only made a few years. I know that the 650s are still selling well as starters and trainers, again on the cheap. The xs also allowed (required) me to look for support, and I found this site, with all the support and downright good folks that come with it. The interactions that Ihave had with the folks here have all been good, with no bad things to speak of, and that you cannot put a price on. Over time I might put $4000 in the bike, but $3850 as the price of admission is a bit steep.

Good Luck